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Fibre-Optic Broadband
Broadband expert warns 'more subsidies needed'
Tuesday 20th October 2009, by Daniel King
One expert has commented on BT's roll out of new fibre-to-the-cabinet broadband technology and how the implementation of such systems may need to be paid for by others.
According to a spokesman for Point Topic, an independent organisation specialising in data services for the telecommunications industry, super-fast internet options will not be significantly deployed across the UK without some sort of support.
Tim Johnson, chief analyst at the firm, explained that one thing that was brought up by the Digital Britain report was proposals for telephone line taxes that would help in subsidising the roll out of such technology.
However, he added that since then, BT has suggested the installation of a network based on fibre-to-the-cabinet systems would also be dependent on the public sector becoming increasingly involved, something which could be seen as a "shot across the bows of the Tory party - who don't like this kind of thing".
"[Fibre-based technology] will not reach more remote areas without subsidy," Mr Johnson noted. "And [these areas] are not terribly remote, they are only mildly remote."
He concluded by saying BT's move to increase the availability of super-fast web connections by more than double "could be a bit of a milestone", although there is still much work to be done to bring the nation as a whole up to speed.
Earlier this week, shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport told the Financial Times that the Conservatives would scrap proposed taxes on telephone lines designed to raise £175 million to pay for better broadband implementation.
